Daily Archives: July 29, 2011

Margaret Boyd Thornton, 89, of Palatka died Sunday July 24, 2011 at Haven Hospice Roberts Care Center in Palatka following an extended illness. Born in Baker County on December 27, 1921, Mrs. Thornton had been a resident of Palatka for 52 years, coming from Green Cove Springs. She had been a member of the New River New Congregational Methodist Church in Lawtey. She was a homemaker and her life was her family. She will be remembered as being a devoted wife, mother and Christian lady.

She was preceded in death by parents Henry and Mamie Boyd; brothers James D. Boyd, Clarence Boyd and Tommy Boyd; sisters Roxie Boyd Jackson and Redith Boyd Richardson; and son-in-law Charlie Lowe.

Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Joseph Thornton of Palatka; daughters Shirley Lowe and Linda (Jack) Slaughter, both of Palatka; grandchildren Ray and Kim Lowe and Briane Slaughter, all of Palatka, Ron and Angela Lowe of Johnson, Florida and Sissy and Travis Anderson of San Mateo, Florida; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

The funeral service was held July 26 at Masters Funeral Home in Palatka with Pastor Fred Hurst and Pastor Ray Johnson officiating. Interment followed at Palatka Memorial Gardens.

Jerry R. Roll, 67, of Jacksonville died Friday, July 15, 2011 after a lingering illness. He served in the Marines and then the Army, from which he retired after 24 years of service. He was preceded in death by mother Alice Denton; step-father Owen Denton; father Evan Roll; sister Betty Jean Huffines.

Survivors include son Darien (Deeann) Roll of Lebanon, TN; daughter Verona (David) Burnham of Macclenny; sisters Georgia Lowery of Bloomington, IN, Pat Lehr of Greenwood, IN, Barbara Walters of Jacksonville, Nona Evans of Cridersville, OH; grandchildren David, Trista and Kristian Burnham of Macclenny and Hannah and Nathan Roll of Lebanon, TN; several nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and nephews.

A military service was held July 19 at Jacksonville National ­Cemetery. Hardage-Giddens Fun­­eral Home was in charge of arrangements.

John Arthur Motherwell, 64, of Sanderson died Sunday, July 24, 2011 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville. A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Mr. Motherwell lived in Sanderson for the past 20 years. He was a retired veteran of the United States Navy, retiring in 1988 as a chief with 24 years of service and three tours in Vietnam.

Mr. Motherwell owned and operated his own custom furniture business from 1990-2000, was a past instructor for extraction at Lake City Community College and taught firefighter 1 and first responder classes for a number of years. He also was a licensed paramedic and worked with Baker County Emergency Management for 10 years, was the Baker County fire marshal for 10 years and was a volunteer with the Baker County Fire Department for 16 years. Mr. Motherwell was a Baptist.

A graveside funeral service for Mr. Motherwell was held July 27 at 11:00 a.m. at North Prong Cemetery with Rev. Tom Pope officiating. Interment followed. Guerry Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Louise Manning, 85, of Baldwin died July 17, 2011. She was born in Baldwin on November 4, 1925 to Walter Manning and Annie Bell Hardy Manning, and was a member of Collins Chapel A.M.E. Church in Baldwin.